Descriptions

This research focused on the experiences of 15 low income Mexican women
immigrants participating in MAS and Superando, two family literacy programs at the
center of these women's sociocultural change. This research sought to understand the
extent to which participation in these two programs empowers women to create
change in their lives. Mezirow's (1991) transformative learning theory was used to
guide this work.
In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the 15 women. The
interviews were transcribed and translated verbatim, then codes were developed using
an open coding method (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). Results from the qualitative
analysis revealed that participation in these two family literacy programs fostered
transformative learning in the lives of the women interviewed. All participants related
experiences that reflected the essential elements of transformative learning, beginning
with a dilemma or life crisis or major life transition. Other phases included self-examination,
critical assessment of assumptions, recognition that others have shared
similar transformations, exploration of new roles or actions, development of a plan for
action, acquisition of knowledge and skills for implementing the plan, tryout of the
plan, development of competence and self-confidence in new roles, and reintegration
into life on the basis of new perspectives.
The women related a broad range of positive outcomes as a result of program
participation, including increased self esteem, self-confidence, and decreased feelings
of loneliness, isolation, fear, and depression. As the women became empowered and
began to explore new roles, this inevitably resulted in changes in their closest
relationships. Many of the women reported interacting with their husbands in very
different ways, including being more assertive, more communicative, and more
independent. These changes that the women made through their transformative
learning experiences were the outermost manifestations of their learning and
development, which resulted in a power shift in their relationships with their
husbands.
The findings indicate that the program fostered healthy family relationships
through increasing the women's capacity to effectively communicate their needs in
their relationships. This research has important practical implications for practitioners
and policies, especially for the development of interventions for low-income Latino
families.